Report of the external evaluation of the soil management support service project (SMSS)

Final external evaluation covers the period 10/79-4/91. The project has been very productive in terms of both the volume and quality of work accomplished. In collaboration with international donors, agricultural research centers, and host governments, the project has conducted numerous training activities, including: 21 training forums involving 1,297 participants, 6 soil classification workshops with 343 participants, 7 soil correlation meetings with 445 participants, and 6 soil management workshops with 345 participants. Nearly 5,000 soil samples from 84 countries have been analyzed, providing information for the project's tropical soils data base, the largest in the world. The project has published and distributed 50,000 copies of a pocketbook guide to soil taxonomy, all or portions of which have been translated into 13 languages. The project has also provided 609 short-term TA consultations. As the result of these accomplishments, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's soil taxonomy is now the world system for classifying, inventorying, and mapping national soil and land resources. The project's success can be attributed to adequate, timely, and high-quality inputs; a dedicated staff; flexible, opportunistic plans; the usefulness of soil taxonomy; effective networking; and cost-sharing and support by international donors, host countries, and others.